FC Nantes owner Waldemar Kita signs sale agreement with investor group

Waldemar Kita has reportedly signed a sale agreement to transfer ownership of FC Nantes to Phenix Sports Invest, a consortium of French, Portuguese, and Luxembourgish investors led by Paulo Tavares.

The transaction is estimated to be valued between 100 million and 125 million euros, including potential bonuses. This move would end Kita's 19-year tenure as the club's president and owner. While the signing of the agreement marks a significant step toward an exclusive negotiation period, the sale is not yet finalized.

Several critical hurdles remain before the takeover is official. The project must be presented to club staff representatives and, most importantly, receive approval from the Direction Nationale du Contrôle de Gestion (DNCG), the French football financial watchdog. Some observers and journalists have expressed caution regarding the financial solidity of the group and the finality of the deal, noting that previous takeover attempts in French football have failed during the regulatory phase.